Jeter’s long journey pays off in London

LOS ANGELES — Eugene “Pooh” Jeter III was a marked man when he arrived at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a charity event.

Everybody wanted to talk to him about his older sister, Carmelita.

“I’ve never seen legs move that fast,” someone said to him.

All Pooh could do was shake his head in disbelief. He was just hours removed from watching Carmelita anchor the U.S. women to a world record 40.82 and a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. Pooh said he had “tears of joy” as he watched the race.

“She was pointing at the clock and screaming and going crazy and that just brings chills (to me),” Pooh said. “I still got chills talking about it.

“What my sister did is historical. A blessing from God.”

He was in London for the first week of the Games along with other members of his family decked out in “TEAM JET” t-shirts to witness Carmelita take silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m.

Carmelita burst onto the scene in 2007 when she became the first track and field athlete from Cal State Dominguez Hills to qualify for the World Championships. She was a six-time NCAA Division II All American, while at Dominguez but was setback by a slew of hamstring injuries which kept her sidelined for the better part of two years from 2003-05.

In her first ever trip to the World Championships, she took home the bronze in 2007.

She later became the second fastest woman in history when she ran a 10.64 in the 100m in 2009.

Pooh is proud of the way his sister has bounced back and thinks everyone should recognize her journey.

“It’s an example of never giving up,” he said. “The movie is going to be incredible.

“Once everybody figures out her story, it’s going to be a movie. (Comedian) Kevin Hart should play me.”

Pooh, who had a stint with the Sacramento Kings, is a free agent after playing in Spain last season and says he hopes he’s in town to celebrate with his sister when she returns from London. Regardless, he thinks big plans should be in store.

“I think Los Angeles should have something planned for not just her but for all the Olympic athletes,” he said. “What she did, she not only represented the United States, she represented Los Angeles (and) Gardena.